4 reasons working in hospitality is one of the best jobs in the world

Angela Rose

Nov 14, 2016

Whether you need to start your career quickly and with little previous experience or dream about exploring the globe while earning a competitive income, hospitality could be the right industry for you. Consider these four reasons it’s easily one of the best career paths in the world.

1. It’s one of the world’s fastest growing industries (and it’s never going to go away)

According to the World Travel and Tourism Counsel’s Economic Impact Report, the travel and tourism industry added 7.2 million jobs globally in 2015 while contributing more than $7.2 trillion (in U.S. dollars) to the world’s gross domestic product. Data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the U.S. leisure and hospitality industry employed more than 15.5 million professionals in October 2016 after adding 10,000 jobs.

And that job growth is likely to continue regardless of economic downturns or challenging world events. In a press release from earlier this year, David Scowsill, President and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council, said, “Travel and tourism once again has proved its resilient nature. Terror attacks, disease outbreaks, currency fluctuations and geopolitical challenges have impacted the sector at a country or regional level, but travel and tourism at the global level continues to produce another robust performance.”

Over the next decade, the World Travel and Tourism Council expects the industry to grow by at least 4 percent annually.

2. You can make a real difference in the lives of your customers

Leisure time is important for both mental and physical health. According to the American Psychological Association, 78 percent of U.S. adults surveyed reported experiencing at least one symptom of stress in 2015, while 35 percent also reported that their level of stress had increased over the last year. Fortunately, eating at restaurants and taking vacations are generally considered stress-reducing activities, and Americans make good use of both. When you work in hospitality, you get to help them do so, whether you’re making a few minutes, hours or days of their lives easier or happier. This can have an overall effect on their health that is only topped by physicians or other healthcare professionals.

Interacting with your customers can improve your life as well. According to one Resort Marketing Manager who responded to a question on Quora about the advantages of working in hospitality, there are many. “If you're passionate about travel and hospitality, the hotel industry is a lifelong career path,” she noted. “You'll meet interesting people – team members, guests, vendors, media – that open your eyes to the world and help you clarify your own goals. Getting to ‘talk story’ with guests is a highlight of the day. You have connections around the world.”

3. You don’t have to settle for low pay

Sure, entry-level hospitality jobs may not pay much more than minimum wage, but as we’ve mentioned in past articles, it’s pretty easy to advance from your first position into one with greater responsibility (and thus a larger salary) fairly quickly if you’re willing to work hard to prove your worth to your employer. Add to that the variety of opportunities available in the industry – both in the U.S. and abroad – and you’ll never have an excuse to be dissatisfied with your career.

According to one pay-aggregating website, more than 700 hospitality industry positions paid between $50,000 and $80,000 in 2016. Some even paid more than $100,000 per year.

And while we’re on the topic of compensation, let’s not overlook the other perks of working in hospitality. Depending on your position and employer, these can range from free meals and hotel rooms to discounted airfare, hard-to-get reservations at the world’s hottest restaurants, performance bonuses, tickets to popular shows and events, and a whole lot more.

4. You won’t be limited to just a couple types of employers or a small selection of fields

While hotels, resorts, casinos, and restaurants employ many hospitality professionals, there are plenty of other places you can find work in the hospitality industry as well. These include airlines, railways and cruise ships as well as conference and convention centers, spas and wellness centers, caterers, performance venues, fitness centers, museums, tour operators and more. This also means there is room in hospitality for more than just customer service professionals, with, in particular, an ever-expanding need for technology professionals. The industry needs engineers, programmers, developers, IT professionals, sales and marketing, and accounting and finance experts to keep up with growing technology trends that are revolutionizing hospitality.